Clock-winding indicator



Nu. 6|8,2l7. Patented Ian. 24, I899. J. R. ANDREWS.

CLOCK WINDING INDICATOR.

(Application filed Kay 18, 1898.)

(No Model.)

w! n m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. ANDREW'S, OF HOMESTEAD,- PENNSYLVANIA.

CLOCK-WINDING INDICATOR.

srncIFIcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,217, dated January 24, 1899.

Application filed May 18, 1898. Serial No. 681,073. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. ANDREWS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Homestead, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clock-finding Notices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an improvement in clockwinding notices; and the object of the said invention is to provide certain devices which can be readily applied to an ordinary clock and are automatically operated by the mainspringarbor to raise and lower a sign or indicator that denotes when the mainspring has nearly run down or needs rewindin g, the said devices not interfering in any manner with the proper operation of the time mechanism of the clock.

Vith the above objects in view the invention consists of a vertically-disposed rackplate supported in suitable guides adjoining the inainspring-arbor, a pivoted arm carrying the indicator suspended therefrom and provided with a short end adapted to bear against the rack-plate, and a finger projecting from the arbor to engage the teeth of said plate, the latter having spaces which permit of a free movement of the arbor after the said plate reaches the limit of its movement in either direction, together with springs acting upon the plate to bring the first tooth at each end in proper engagement with the finger of the arbor.

The following specification enters into a detail description of the invention, and what is claimed as new in the art is more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a clock, showing the application of my invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a front view of my improvements, including only so much of the clock that will show the application of said improvements. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the rack-plate.

\Vith reference to said drawings, A Adesignate guide-brackets which are secured to the front plate 13 of the casing which supports the clock-movement, the said brackets being provided with vertical openings and are arranged one above the other adjoining the arbor 0, upon which the mainspring of the clock is wound. Sliding loosely in these guidebrackets is a vertically-disposed rack-plate D, having a series of teeth (Z, and at each end of the series the plate is cut away, as shown, to provide spaces d for the purpose hereinafter specified. This rack-plate is supported by the frictional engagement therewith of the short end of an arm E, pivoted upon a pin Z), projecting from the plate B, the extremity of the longer end of the arm carrying an indicator or notice F, suspended therefrom by a wire or cord f. It will be noted that the shorter end of the arm E bears against one side of the plate near the outer edge thereof and that the gravity of the longer end of said arm, with the parts carried thereby, causes a frictional engagement sufficient only to support the plate, while permitting a sliding movement thereof.

G designates a disk having a square opening by which it is fitted on the squared end of the harbor 0, being held thereon by a pin h,

and said disk is provided with a projecting finger g, adapted to pass in between the teeth 01 of the plate D and engage the same. This fin geris carried around with the arbor, and by engaging the teeth (1 grad ually raises or lowers the rack-plate, according to the direction said arbor is turned, the plate being moved the space of one tooth at each revolution of the arbor and is supported by thefrictional contact of the arm E therewith, as hereinbefore described.

I I designate plate-springs which are attached to the clock-plate B and are arranged in such relative position that they engage the ends of the rack-plate D, the upperspringacting against the weight of the arm and indicator to bring the tooth at the lower end of the series in proper position to be engaged by the finger when the movement of the arbor is reversed.

The construction and operation of my improvement will be readily understood from the foregoing'description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, for upon winding the mainspring the rack-plate D will be lowered and, operating the arm E,

raises the indicator card or notice F to conceal it within the clock, the space d at the lower part of the rack-plate permitting the arbor to be turned after said plate has reached the limit of its down ward movement. Now upon the opposite rotation of the mainspringarbor in the operation of the time mechanism the rack-plate will be raised by the finger engaging the teeth thereof in succession, and when the lower end of said plate passes above the shorter end of the arm E the longer end thereof will swing downward and move the winding notice or indicator card F into view, the space cl at the lower part of the rack-plate permitting a free rotation of the arbor. Thus it will be observed that the notice or indicator card is brought into view some time before the spring is com pletely unwound. The plate-springs, which engage the opposite ends of the rack-plate, insure the proper engagement of the finger with the teeth when the direction of rotation of the arbor is reversed.

The parts comprising my improved clockwinding notice are simple and cheap and can be readily applied to an ordinary clock, and when used in connection with the style of clock shown in the drawings the notice or indicator card falls into position to be seen through the glass door covering the space occupied by the pendulum.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A clock-winding notice, comprising a plate having a series of teeth and wide spaces beyond each end tooth of the series, a pivoted arm one end of which is in frictional engagement with the toothed plate, an indicatorcard carried by the other end of said arm, and a finger projecting from the mainspringarbor to engage the teeth; together with springs with which the ends of the toothed plate engage, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. A clock-winding notice, comprising a toothed plate slidably supported adjoining the mainspring-arbor, said plate having wide spaces beyond each end tooth, an arm pivoted adjoining the toothed plate and presenting a short end which bears against said plate, an indicator-card suspended from the extremity of the longer end of the arm by a wire or cord, and a finger projecting from the mainspring-arbor to engage the teeth of the plate; together with springs with which the ends of the plate engage, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. A clock winding notice, comprising brackets with vertical openings, a plate guided in said brackets and provided with a series of teeth and wide spaces beyond each end tooth of the series, a pivoted arm having a short end bearing against one side of the toothed plate, an indicator-card carried by the other end of said arm, and a linger projecting from the mainspring-arbor; together with springs with which the plate engages at the limit of its movement in eitherdirection, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. ANDREVS.

Witnesses:

II. B. McOoLLUn, WALTER DONALDSON. 

